Kid Monitoring App Mac

We love this app because it goes further than just helping parents monitor screen time. Zift offers parental controls like instant reporting of online searches, updates on newly installed apps,. Qustodio – This app works on iOS, Android, Kindle, Mac and Windows devices. It allows parents to block inappropriate content, balance sceen time across devices, control games and apps, monitor time spent on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp, and others, and view your child’s phone calls and texts.

• Parental Monitoring App For Mac
• Kid Monitoring App Mac Pro

As a parent, you have the right to know what the kids in your care are doing with their digital devices, and to control what kids can see and use. It’s key to introduce controls and rules when a device is new so you and your child can be clear about what is and isn’t O.K. during screen time.

First of all, the device your family or child will use likely has its own parental control options. Some can screen out Internet access altogether, and others can filter out certain sites. Because they are all different, the best plan is to read up on the parental controls for each device and operating system your family will use.

Below are some tools for monitoring or limiting the amount of time the device is in use, tracking the software or apps used, and more.

Windows PCs When you create an account designated as a child’s account, you get the option to enable Family Safety settings. Family Safety allows you to monitor and /or time the usage from your child’s account, block certain applications or sites, and get weekly reports reviewing the activity on the account.

Macs If you and your child use separate Macs, you can share screens in addition to turning on Parental Controls. Log on as Administrator on your child’s Mac, go to the Sharing preferences and choose Screen Sharing. Continue to “Allow Access For” and choose Administrators. When you are on your Mac, go to the Finder and choose Go: Network to see your child’s Mac. Click on Share Screen to see the activity.

Software You can purchase software to further monitor or block kids’ access, which allows varying levels of censorship, depending on your kids’ ages and your house rules. Intego makes a highly rated one for Macs, Verity by NCH Software makes a popular one for PCs.

Tablets Each will have its own parental control settings, which will operate similarly to the corresponding computer operating system’s settings, described above.

Phones If your kid has any kind of smartphone, backing up the phone’s content to your own PC or Mac is a good idea. This way, you will be aware of which apps are being used on the phone, and you’ll be able to see what calls and text messages your child is making.

Be sure to activate the basic security features, as well as any further limitations on usage you want, in the phone’s setting before your child begins to use the phone.

GPS location trackers

Life360 Has a security map that will show you the precise location of each family member, as well as allow you all to communicate about you whereabouts. It’s free, and works with iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerrys.

Securafone This app lets parents set up boundaries on a map, and alerts them if kids wander outside the boundaries. It also has a panic button that kids can press to immediately dial a parent or other authority if trouble arises. Free, and works with iPhone and Android.

Phone service providers: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and other carriers also offer GPS tracking unique to their users. Check your plan and see what services are included.

Finally, how about trying to spend less time on your own Facebook page or gossip news site, to allow more time for joint media experiences with your family? You can block yourself (and your distractible kids) from such time wasters. SelfControl can be yours, free of charge.

This story was part of Time For Family’s special report on kids and screens. Click here for Time’s special deal for families.

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EDIT POST

With tons of online cyberbullying, sexting, identity theft, scams, and false information in digital world, it's up to us to keep our children safe on their phones — even when they're away from home, making sure that the content they are viewing and activities they're interacting with is appropriate for their age. Here we tested and evaluated 10 leading parental control apps to monitor child's phone. Ready to protect your kids while they're online and offline? Let's dive into these apps' functionality and weakness.

Part 1: Top 10 Apps to Monitor Child's Phone

This is a short overview of the 10 best apps to monitor child's iPhone/Android devices which can be effectively used as a parental monitoring app.

• KidsGuard Pro - 9.8

• Norton Family Premier - 9.6

• Qustodio for Families Premium - 9.2

• Net Nanny - 9.1

• ESET Parental Control App for Android - 9.0

• PhoneSheriff - 8.8

• My Mobile Watchdog - 8.5

• Lock2Learn - 8.2

• Mobistealth - 8.1

• Bark - 7.8

1. KidsGuard Pro [Best Buy]

KidsGuard Pro is regarded as the best app to monitor child's phone in a variety of ways. It can monitor by far more than 30 features, from current GPS location, geofence, texts, calls, browsing history, social media apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, which addresses the main concerns of a parent today.

The app uses artificial intelligence to not only record each keystroke made on your child's phone but also identify where those words are used. And you can keep tab of every little thing your child does on social media. So you can easily detect the content that suggests a potential problem--e.g. bullying or violence. You will, however, get a app activity report detailing what apps your child was active on so you get an idea of how much time he is spending online. Whether your child is at home or school, you're able to check his whereabouts in real time and route history.

With KidsGuard Pro parental control app at your fingertips, you can protect your child from online harassment at all times. Moreover, its intuitive online dashboard makes it very easy to monitor your children's activity and make sure they're using their devices appropriately. Once you download the app on your child's phone and connect it to your online account, just select the files you want to monitor and you're all set.

Features

• Check every specific browsing history even in incognito mode to prevent inappropriate content.

• Track indoor and outdoor location, and get alertd when kids enters or leaves a virtual zone by Geofence capability.

• Stay informed of all conversations taking place via social media apps.

• Get the call recordings and keep chronological log of all incoming and outgoing calls going through.

• View all photos/videos saved on the child's device.

• Capture live screenshots and take surrounding picture to know how they are using their smartphones.

• Track app activities on the device to make sure that your kids won't get addicted to their phones or any app.

Pros

• Simple and easy installation in 5 minutes.

• Web control panel lets parents control everything remotely.

• Real-time data syncing and 100% privacy & data protection.

• Offers 30+ usefull phone monitoring features applied for all Android and iOS devices.

• Work in stealth mode so your kid will not know that he/she is being monitored.

• Provide best technical support in 24/7/365.

Cons

• Not one-fee product.

• Blocking feature is not available.

What user says about it

'Have been using KidsGuard Pro for many years, and found it to be the best app to monitor kids. It is easy to use and gives my child all round protection. Can't imagine using anything else.' —— By Scott David

2. Norton Family Premier

Besides KidsGuard Pro, the next parental control app comes to mind is Norton Family Premier. It is one of the best app for monitoring child's phone, which can help you to protect your child from the potential online threats. It gives a way for them to enjoy the benefits of internet without having to deal with the inappropriate and dangerous scenarios. You can limit the amount of screen time based on your kids' ages or set up a schedule on the target phone so that your kids won't indulge in other day to day activities as well.

Features

• Offer location tracking on your child's device.

• Manage existing apps on the target device.

• Filter and monitor web usage.

• Show how much time your kids spend on their devices.

Pros

• Compatible with Windows, android and iOS devices.

• Offers a easy-to-use web dashboard for parents.

• No specific limit on the number of devices that can be monitored.

Cons

• Not compatible with macOS.

• Not supported to hide app on target device.

• Can't monitor texts and instant messages.

3. Qustodio

Qustodio is another good choice if you are trying to find free apps to monitor child's phone. Basic protection like website filtering engine, setting time restrictions and reporting any doubtful activity are all provided by this application. One of the most usefull features could be the SOS feature. It's supposed to be used to alert a trusted contact in case of an emergency. Once your child press the button, you will get the alert through the dashboard or an email.

Features

• Set time limits for games & apps on your child's phone.

• Receive a full 30 day breakdown of your child's activity directly.

• See what your child searches for and watches on the YouTube Android app.

• Block unwanted apps or inappropriate searching content.

Pros

• Simple installation and setup process.

• Inappropriate content filtering.

• Remotely monitor kids' phone on your own device.

Cons

• Some features has certain restrictions in iOS devices.

• Can not hide on the target device.

• Expensive for subscription.

4. Net Nanny

Net Nanny is a complete and well-known app to monitor your child's phone calls, messages and a lot more attractive features built in. More than 18 types of online content can be blocked according to your requirement. Any adult content access can be reported and the access would be immediately blocked. Besides, you can also add phrases or keywords to block as well. You can set the time limits for the usage of the internet.

Features

• Set specific time limints online for your child's device.

• Block access to websites included inappropriate content like hate, violence, and porn.

• Stay informed of your child's primary mobile device location.

Pros

• Advanced website blocking feature.

• Easy and simple user interface.

• Support various devices including Windows, Mac and Android phones.

Cons

• Free trial is not available before purchasing.

• Drain the battery or lag the phone sometimes.

• Can not work in hidden mode.

• Some important features like text or call tracking are missing.

5. ESET Parental Control App

You can enhance the online security for your kids with the help of ESET parental control app. It is designed to monitor child's phone e in a friendly way, which means you can send multipke reminders from app to warn the kids or make relevant settings changes in device. Through this you can set up boundaries as to where your child can do. You can restrict the unsafe regions. As soon as your child reaches near the unsafe and restricted region, you will be sent an alert.

Features

• Shows you a list of the top visited websites on your kids phone.

• Automatically blocks gambling and pornography.

• Take control of inappropriate online content and block them on the target device.

Pros

• Easy-to-use setup process.

• Protect multiple Windows, Mac and Android devices with a single license.

• Features child-centred interface.

Cons

• Doesn't support iOS devices.

• Messages and chats on social media networks cannot be monitored.

• Can not hide in monitored phone.

6. Pumpic

If you require free apps to monitor child's phone, then PhoneSheriff is a suitable one for you. With the help of this application you can block specific websites and certain apps which you do not want your child to access. This application will send you custom activity alerts and all the text messages on your child's phone can be monitored. This app provides real-time location tracking and geofence, so through this feature every time your child goes out of the restricted area you would be alerted.

Features

• Offers real time GPS location tracking for your child.

• See all SMS logs and call history by the target devices.

• Lock and wipe the device remotely.

Pros

• Instant alerts and notifications about the monitored device.

• Excellent GPS locator with geofencing feature.

• Allows one to set time limits on phone usage.

Cons

• Root or jailbreak is required to run the app.

• Expensive for purchasing.

• The app is unresponsive quite often.

7. My Mobile Watchdog

My Mobile Watchdog child monitoring app is highly recommended for its web safety-related features intended for smartphone browsing purposes. Based on the age group, you can use filter options to block unwanted websites and allow access to career and education based sites. All mobile internet activity on your child's phone is logged and easily accessible. And you will instantly receive alerts when your child attempts to access a blocked site.

Features

• Send you regular reports of the activities on the target device.

• View contacts on your child's phone and block unwanted ones.

• Offers website blacklisting and software blocking features.

Pros

• Updated and sync information with customized reports.

• Helps in setting up age-based profiles.

Cons

• No free trial available.

• App can be seen on target device.

• It lacks clear user guide and customer support is poor.

8. Highster Mobile

Highster Mobile acts as perfect apps to monitor child's phone and also offers a few features which lets you control your child's online activity remotely. Once the app is installed on target device, it does not require you have it with you. It monitors cell phones remotely and virtually and remains undetected to allow secret spying on your child's phone.

Features

• Log every text message even if it is deleted.

• It can initiate the camera to click images and take pictures of the surroundings.

• Provides a detail route history reports of your child.

Pros

• Has a live control panel which can dynamically access all details relating to your child's phone.

• Auto stealth mode keeps the App hidden.

Cons

• It's not free and carries an expensive charge.

• Require technical skills to root or jailbreak the target device.

9. Mobistealth

MobiStealth is a famous child phone monitoring which is available for PC and also mobile phones. Any phone activity can be monitored and controlled using this application. You can monitor major social media applications like FaceBook, Snapchat, WhatsApp and other messengers used for texting. It is intuitive to use for checking every element of phone activity.

Features

• Provides real-time and GPS location tracking.

• Monitor email, text messages and contact details.

• Support call logs monitoring.

Pros

• It works 24/7 even when the target device is away from you.

• Compatible with most smartphone platforms.

Cons

• Doesn't offer a free trial.

• lack of some advanced features like app blocking and call recording.

• Time-consuming in installing the app.

• Expensive for subscription.

10. Bark

Our last but not least app to monitor childs phone is Bark. It mainly focused on social media and emails monitoring, and would send an alert to the parent account when it found anything inappropriate. There are over 25 social media apps that are tracked by Bark, and once you give access, it can read sent, received and deleted chats, images and videos. All the text messages can also be kept a check on.

Features

• Monitor child's phone calls and Messages.

• Alert sensitive online issues to parent.

• Keep track of every search logs from browser.

Pros

• Stealth monitoring mode.

• Packed with attracing monitoring capabilities.

Cons

• The data updates delay very often.

• One license only support to track one phone at a time.

• No live customer service or support is provided.

Part 2: How We Tested the Best Child Monitoring App

In the previous part, we have mainly focused on the best apps to monitor child's iPhone/Android device which can be installed before handing over the phone to your child and not after doing it. The following points were taken into account when we tested the best app for monitoring child's phone in the list.

1. How easy an app is to download, install and configure on the target phone.

2. Which program allows you as a parent to control and monitor all the applications on the target phone.

3. Which program offers the content filtering option and other such features which can be used to restrict and limit the access to inappropriate content online.

4. Since everybody carries out most of their conversations through messaging, we have also looked at the text message monitoring feature of each program and assessed them based on how well they alert the parent in case a new contact is added.

5. We have also tested the ability of the installed application to alert the parent when their child has entered an unwanted place and if it also provides the real time location.

6. We even kept into account the price of each of the applications which will be discussed in detail above.

Other features of each of the applications were also tested and their functions and compatibility with iOS, Android, Windows and Mac systems were also taken into account.

FAQs about Apps to Monitor Child's Phones

1. What is the best app for monitoring your child's phone?

KidsGuard Pro is the best app to monitor child's phone and highly recommended for efficient activity monitoring. With over 30 features, it can track real-time location, monitor texts, calls, browsing history, social media apps, which addresses the main concerns of a parent today.

2. Can I see what my child is doing on their iPhone?

Parental Monitoring App For Mac

Yes, you can see what your child is doing on their iPhone or Android with the help of the apps listed above. Additionally, We recommend KidsGuard Pro app that you can not only install remotely but also discreetly. It requires no jailbreak and has an intuitive interface.

3. How can I monitor my child's phone without them knowing?

Some parental control apps on this list are made in stealth mode, which mean you can monitor all activity happened on your child's phones without beind found. The better the app you choose, the more stealth it will offer.

4. Can I monitor my child's phone without installing software?

No. It is a must to install the app on your child's phone. Worry not, some advanced app like KidsGuard Pro can do it in a matter of five minutes. After that, your child's phone can be monitored remotely without touching it even once.

An Array of Amazing Features

Kid Monitoring App Mac Pro

• Keep track of the whereabouts in real time and view route history

• Monitor all incoming, outgoing and deleted calls & SMS

• Access social media apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, LINE, and more

• Check specific browsing history even in ingconito mode

• Record keystrokes on the target device and also take screenshots without knowing